Lawyers Were on Standby in Case Bin Laden Was Captured Alive

President Obama had a team of lawyers, translators and interrogators on stand-by in case Osama bin Laden was captured alive during the raid on his Pakistani compound last week.

The New York Times has a story on the contingency plans. Obama had increased the size of the military operation so that the Navy Seals could fight their way out of Pakistan in case local police or troops interfered.

He also had two teams of specialists on stand-by. The lawyers were available in case bin Laden was captured alive, and burial experts were available in case bin Laden was killed.

In the capture scenario, bin Laden would have been brought aboard a Navy ship to avoid any battles over jurisdiction, the story says. Interrogators would have conducted initial interviews for information that could prevent a pending attack or identify al-Qaida leaders.